Automatically operated spraying system



Dec. 16, 1941. J. HARRISQN ETAL 2,266,365

AUTOMTICALLY OPERATED SPRAYING SYSTEM Filed Mach 6, 1939 2 sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR Dec. 16, 1941. J. HARRISON E-r AL I AUTOMATICALLYQPERATEDSPRAYING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Mardh e, '1939 @6. www one@ www..QN.

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Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES John Harrison, Chicago,

and William n.

MacMartin, Lombard, Ill., assignora to Binks Manufacturing Company,Chicago, Ill., a eor' poration of Delaware Application March 6, 1939,Serial )10.260,040

4 Claims.

. The present invention relates to spraying allpliances or systems,particularly of the automatic operating type.

Among the objects of the invention is to provvide a novel system ofspraying whereby the 5 spray gun is automatically operated for any givenperiod of time or in any predetermined time relation with the article tobe sprayed, such as with respect to the delivery of printed sheets ofpaper in a process where the spraying is for the purpose of preventingoffset in printing. The illustrative embodiment of the present inventioncomprises generally a spray gun having a nozzle structure with materialand airgnozzle portions and material and air passages leading thereto,together with material and air 'valves therein for controlling thedischarge of the material and the air from the nomle structure, and witha novel operating means for actuating the device. Such operation iseffected by separate and independent motive iiuid in given timerelations and under predetermined pressures. The means may be ofthepiston or diaphragmatic type, the term piston being used herein inageneric sense to comprehend a sliding piston and a exing diaphragm. Thepiston chamber is 4 separated from the air passage leading to the aircontrol valve and has an independently connected passage for theadmission of motive uid and Vits release as controlled by a controlvalve 30 of the three-way type.

'I'he air valve which is normally closed is connected as by a tubularshank passing through the A separating wall between the piston chamberand the air valve structure so as to move with the piston when thelatter is acted upon by the mo.- tive fluid or by a spring acting on thepiston normally to move the piston forwardly and to close the air valveat the time when the motive uid is released. The material valve has apor- 40 tion which extends into the piston chamber also to be acted uponby the piston in its movements. Such extending portion of the material-valve has a means such as a collar normally in spaced relation withrespect to the piston whereby before the piston engages this means ithas a predetermined amount of movement or lead, at which time the airvalve is opened prior to the opening of the material valve. Conversely,the material valve acted on by a spring will 5o be closed before thematerial valve is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel control valve forthe motive fluid. This valve has a main and auxiliary valve with aconnected to the piston chamber, and has an auxiliary passage connectedto the main passage and acting as an exhaust passage. 'I'his valve ispreferably operated by a cam and is so constructed as to first close thenormally open auxiliary valve and then to open the main valve wherebythe motive iiuid passes to the piston chamber to act upon the piston, asabove explained. Upon further turning -of the cam, suitable springsreturn the valves to their normal positions, the main valve seating. rstand then the auxiliary valve opening, whereby the motive uid returns byway of the exhaust passage for release into the atmosphere. In this waythe spraying appliance is automatically operated intermittently in timerelation with the handling of the means being sprayed.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities, features, and the like, 4arecomprehended by the invention as will later appear and as are inherentlypossessed by the invention.

This is the parent of the copending continuing application of William B.MacMartin, Serial No. 292,187, filed August 28, 1939, for Nozzlestructure for spray guns.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a system embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through' a novel spray gun ofthe present inventio Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken inf apiane represented by line 3-3 of Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a three-way control valve forthemotiveuid.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate. form of spraygunshowing the use of a diaphragm in lieu of asiidingpiston.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the embodiments selectedtoillustrate 'the invention are shown as comprising a spray gun having abody I provided at its forward end with a forwardly widening sockethaving a mouth portion 2 provided with a flaring annular-seat and withan annular channel 3 within the mouth portion and rearwardly of the seatthereof. The socket also has a base portionl opening into the ma-kterial passage 5 leading from the connection 5, the basev portion!having a flared seat and an annular channel 6 forwardly of such aredseat. 'I'he 'base portion I is of smaller diameter than the mouthportionl. The socket also has an intermediate threaded portion 1 ofintermediate diameter and is disposedv between the channels mainpiassagecontrolled by the main valve and 3 and 6. The channel 6 is incommunication with the air passage 8 in body I. In the body I is alsoprovided an air passage 9 which is in communication with the air passage8 and leads to the channel 3.

Fitted to this socketed forward end portion of the body is a nozzlestructure comprising a material nozzle portion and an air nozzleportion. The material nozzle portion comprises a central tubular part Iin communication with the material passage and having a tapered rear endII to seat upon the flared seat of the socket base portion 4. 'Ihis partI0 has at its forward end a discharge tip I 2 controlled by a needlevalve I3.

The tube part I0 has a concentric portion I4 provided with a threadedportion I5 adapted for securement to the threaded part 1 of the socketand has at its forward end a tapered seat portion I6. Intermediately ofsaid portion I4 is provided a larger diametered annular portion I1 witha rearward tapered seat portion I8 fitting with the flared mouth portion2 and a forward tapered seat portion I9 so spaced from the seat portionI6 as to provide therebetween an annular air channel 20. A plurality ofair passages 2| are provided in the part I4 for connecting the airchannel 6 with the air chamber 22 at the front of the material nozzle.portion. Also there are al plurality of passages 23 in the intermediateannular part I1 for connecting the air channel 3 with the air channel20.

An air nozzle cap 24 has spaced tapered seat portions 25 and 26 whichseat upon the seat portions I9 and I6, respectively, with an annular airchannel 21 between them and registering with the air channel 20. 'I'hecap has horns 28 with passages 29 and side jet orifices 30 communicatingwith the channel 21. tral annular air orifice 3|.

The cap is connected in place by a coupling ring 32 threaded to theforward or mouth end of the gun body and to the rear end of the cap byway of a spring locking ring. 'I'his leaves an annular space 33 betweenthe end or mouth part ofthe gun body and the rear end of the cap wherebyleakage of air might occur if this space were in communication with anyof the air passages of the device. But by seating the parts I8 and I9against the parts 2 and 25 and providing the air bores 23 in the annularpart 1, there is no air communication from the air passages to the space33. The intermediate portion of the body I is pro- The cap has acenvided with an air valve structure having a valve chamber 34,.a valve35 normally closed on the seat 36, a valve outlet 31 leading to an airpassage portion 38 which in turn leads to the air passage portion 8.Leading to the valve chamber 34 is an air passage portion 39 incommunication with a duct connection or thimble 46.

Rearwardly of the valve chamber 34 is provided a wall or partition 4I inwhich is screwed a packing or sealing means 42 so bored as slidably toreceive the tubular shank 43 of the air valve 35, the rear end of theshank 43 being threaded for securement -to a piston 44. Sealing plugs 45and 46 are xed inbore portions of the air passage portions 38 and 8,respectively. A hook hole 41 is provided in the upper part of the body Iforengagement of a hook when the gun ls to be suspended, a suitable setscrew 48 being provided for securing the hook in place.

In the rearward end portion of the' body I is provided a piston chamber49 having a closure cap 58, the piston being slidable in this chamber.

To the chamber 49 is connected a motive fluid 75 passage connection 5Ileading to the chamber space 52 forwardly of the piston 44 andrearwardly of the wall 4I. Rearwardly of the piston is a spring 53actingto normally force the piston forward.

'I'he needle valve I3 has an elongated shank 54 which extends slidablythrough packing means 55 secured to the forward portion of the gun body,packing means 56 secured to the intermediate portion of the gun body,then through the air valve 34-43, and the piston 44, with a rearthreaded end portion 51 extending rearwardly of such piston. yOn thethreaded part 51 is adjustably secured a collar 58. This collar isnormally spaced from the rear of the piston with a given orpredetermined lead. 4On the threaded end 51 is also secured a stopelement 59 which may be of tubular form and having a squared head 69 by.which adjustment may be made on the threaded end portion 51 of theneedle valve shank. This element 59 serves the purpose of a locking nutfor the collar 58 and the' head 64 thereof acts as the contact stopagainst a head 6I of an adjusting tube 62 threaded in the hub 63 forminga part of the cap 50. A spring 64 is located in the tube 62 between thehead 6I and the collar 58 to normally force the needle valve forwardly.

The air to the horns is controlled by a valve device as shown in Fig. 3.Such device comprises a cross bore 65 at the forward end of and incommunication with the air passage portion 8. This bore also intersectsthe air channel 6 and is constantly in communication with the channel.Inwardly is a smaller cross bore 66 which communicates with the crossbore 65 by way of a port controlled by a valve 61. The bore 66intersects with the air passage 9 and is thus in communication with it.The valve 61 has a smooth stem pgrtion 68, a, threaded portion 69, and aknob 19, the threaded portion 69 being operative in a packing nut 1Isecured in the outer end of the cross bore 65. At the inside ofr the nut1I is a packing 12 backed by a plate 13 against which acts a spring 14to maintain theV packing leak-tight about the smooth portion of the stem68, the spring reacting against a washer 15 on the stem 68 and backed bya cross pin 16 fast with the stem 68. By turning the knob 19 the valve61 may be adjusted to control the amount and the pressure of the air tothe horn jet orifices, and hence the desired flattening of the materialstream projected from the tip I2.

The motive fluid is controlled by a three-way valve shown in Fig. 4.This valve comprises a .body 11 having an inlet 18, a chamber 19, a

main valve having a valve seat 80, a chamber 8| and an outlet 82. 'I'hemain valve seat is normally closed 'by a main valve element 83. Thevalve 83 has a shank 84 about which is a spring 85 which acts betweenthe valve 83 and a cap 86 at the end of the chamber 19. The valve 83 hasa stem 81 with an auxiliary valve element 68 at its end. In an extendedportion of the chamber 8I is a slidable tube 89 which has at its innerend a valve seat 98 for seating against the auxiliary valve 88. The tube89 has a bore 9| and exhaust outlets 92. 'Ihe inner end of the tube hasa packing 93 backed by a plate 94 against which acts a spring 95. Thelatter, besides tending to compress the packing, also acts normally tohold the auxiliary valve seat away from the valve element 88. To the endportion 96 is adjustably secured, as by a lock nut 98, a guide 91. Thisguide has side eletube 09 slides.

assassin material and air valves respectively in said passages forcontrolling discharge of material and diameter than the tube 09 so as topresent shoulders 89* which contact with shoulders 90 provided on theelements $0, the latter shoulders acting as a limit stop for the outwardmovement of the tube 09. Also, the extension is slotted and carries abearing pin I0| upon which is rotatably mounted a roller |02 whichroller is located in the -slot of the extension. A cam |03 having a camlobe |04 is 4so positioned as to operate against this roller.

As the cam |03 rotates and the lobe |04 is brought in contact with theroller |02, the tube 80 is forced inwardly against the force of thespring 05. First there is a closing of the valve seat 00 against theauxiliary valve 00 and then there is an opening of the main valve 03,whereby motive fluid passes through the device by way of the outlet 02to the passage 5| and the piston chamber '52 forwardly ofthe piston 44.This causes the piston to be moved rearwardly at which time the airvalve immediately opens. After the piston M has moved through the leaddistance for the needle valve it engages the collar on the needle valveshank and the needle valve is then opened to permit the material to beprojected through the tip I2. As the cam lobe |04 turns away from theroller |02, the spring 95 immediately acts Atol move the tube 09outwardly. The ilrst effect is a closing of the main valve 8 3 under theforce of the spring 85, and then an opening of the auxiliary valve underthe force of the spring 95 whereby the motive fluid is permitted toexhaust by way of the passage 9| and outlets-92.

Fig. 5 shows a diaphragmatic type of operating means in lieu of a pistontype. The piston chamber is of the same general construction as shown inFig. 2, with the exception that "the diaphragm |05 is clamped at itsmargin or per-iphery between outward-ly extending flange portions |06and- |01 of the chamber structure. In all otherrespects the device isthe same as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a ztank or container |08 in whichthe material to be sprayed is contained under pressure. The material isfed by way of a suitable duct or conduit |00 connected to the thimble5B. 'I'he air supplied to the air nozzle portion and controlled by theair valve is contained under pressure in a container H0'. It is fed fromthis container through a suitable reducing valve and by way of a pipel|| connected to the thimble 40. Air under pressure is always present atthe air valve 35, so that upon opening of the air valve there is animmediate supply of the air at the air nozzle portion.

The motive fluid is supplied from any suitable source and is connectedto the three-way valve 11. The outlet- 02 of such three-way valveisconnected by way of a pipe to the thimble 5|.

While we have herein described and upon the drawings shown preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that theinventionis not limited thereto, but comprehends other constructions, details,arrangements of parts, features. and the like, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention,

We claim:

1. A spraying system comprising a spray gun provided with anozzlestructure having material and air nozzle portions and separate materialand air passages leading thereto, normally closed air from saidy nozzleportions, said air passage including an air valve chamber, said gunhaving a piston chamber and a piston movable therein,

a wall for separating said piston chamber and said air valve chamber,and a third passage leading to said piston chamber between said wall andsaid piston for passage of motive uid independently lthereto andtherefrom, resilient means in said piston chamber and acting on saidpiston for normally forcing said piston forwardly, said air valve beingso connected to said piston as to move therewith to open position byaction of motive uid on said piston when admitted into said pistonchamber and to closed position by action of said resilient means whenthe motive fluid is released from said piston chamber, said materialvalve having a portion extending' into said piston chamber rearwardly ofsaid piston, a spring acting on said material valve for normally forcingsaid valve to closed position, and means on said extending portion ofsaid material valve so located in normally spaced'relation to saidpiston as to be engaged by s'aid piston when rearwardly moved to opensaidimaterial valve subsequently to the opening of said air valve, andwhen forwardly moved to permit the closing of said material valve priorto the closing ,of said air v alve.

2. A-spraying system comprising a spray gun provided with a nozzlestructure having material and air nozzle portions and separate materialand air passages leading thereto, normally closed material and airvalves respectively in4 ing said piston forwardly, said gun having apartition between said piston chamber and said air valve chamber forseparating said chambers, said air valve having a rearward extensionslidable through said partition and being-so con-v nected to said pistonas to move therewith to open position by action of motive iiuid on saidpiston when admitted into said piston chamber and to closed position byaction of said resilient means when the motive fluid is released fromsaid piston chamber, said material valve having a portion extending intosaid piston chamber rearwardly of said piston, a spring acting .on saidmaterial valve for normally forcing said valve to closedposition," andmeans on said extending portion of said material valve so located innormally spaced relation to said piston as to be engaged by said pistonwhen rearwardly moved to open said material .valve subsequently to theopening of said air valve, and when forwardly moved to permit theclosing of said material valve prior to the closing ofsaid air valve.

3. A spraying system comprising a spray gunprovided with a nozzlestructure having material and air nozzle'portlons and separate materialand airpassages leading thereto, normally closed material and air valvesrespectively in said passages for controlling discharge of material andair from said nozzle portions,l said air passage including an air valvechamber, said gun having a piston chamber and a piston movable therein,and a third passage leading to said piston chamber forwardly of saidpiston for passage of motive fluid independently thereto and therefrom,resilient means in said piston chamber and acting on said piston fornormally forcing said piston forwardly, said gun having a partitionbetween said piston chamber and. said air valve chamber for separatingsaid chambers, said air valve being of tubular form with a seat at itsforward end and with means at its rear end for connection to saidpiston, said air valve being slidable through said partition and movablewith said piston to open position by action of motive fluid on saidpiston when admitted into said piston chamber and to closed position byaction of said resilient means when the motive iluid is released fromsaid piston chamber, said material valve having a portion extendingslidably through said air valve and into said piston chamber rearwardlyof said piston, a spring acting-on said material valve for normallyforcing said valve to closed position, and means on said extendingportion of said material valve so .located in normally spaced relationto said piston as to be engaged by said piston when rearwardly moved toopen said material valve subsequently to the opening-of said air valve,and when forwardly moved to permit the closing of said material valveprior to the closing of said air valve.

4. A spray gun comprising a body having a forward portion provided witha nozzle structure comprising material and air nozzle portions, andprovided with a material passage leading to the material nozzle portion,said body having an intermediate portion provided with an air valvestructure, and with an air passage leading to said valve structure andfrom said valve structure to said nozzle structure, said body having arear portion provided with a piston chamber having a forward wallclosing off said chamber from said valve structure, a piston movable insaid chamber, and provided with a motive iiuid passage leading tosaid'chamber rearwardly of said wall and forwardly of said piston, aspring acting on said piston to force it forward, means for connectingthe valve of the valve structure to the piston to open and close with-the movements of the piston, a spring pressed needle valve forcontrolling the flow of material through said material nozzle portion,and means on said needle valve so located as to be engaged by the pistonfor opening the needle valve.

JOHN HARRISON. WILLIAM B. MAeMARTrN.

